ORLANDO - The UCF women’s basketball team honored five seniors in the final home game of the season, but were unable to overcome Iowa State’s scoring ways, 98-73.
The Knights (10-17, 3-14 Big 12) found some rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, but couldn’t compete with the Cyclones’ (20-10, 11-6 Big 12) high-scoring and defensive strength as they tied their highest scoring percentage of the season.
Khayla Ngodu won the tip to start off the first quarter, and it led to Kaitlin Peterson sinking the first field goal of the night. The two squads exchanged points before the Cyclones clung onto some momentum. Ngodu ended an Iowa State 9-0 scoring run that went on for just over a minute and a half. Peterson looked strong, notching ten of the Knights’ 16 in the first. This is the fourth time this season the senior guard has hit double digits in the first quarter. Emely Rodriguez ended the quarter with a jumper putting the Black and Gold at 16 to the Cyclone’s 23.
The second quarter saw some new faces as Mahogany Chandler-Roberts and Adeang Ring got on the board with a couple of layups. Ring also looked strong on defense, tallying three rebounds. However, the Knights efforts slowed as they ended the quarter only notching 11 points. The Cyclones held onto the lead, ending the first half, 44-27.
Nevaeh Brown opened up the second half with a three-point jumper and netted another just over two minutes later. The Knights kept the pressure on the Cyclones offense as Ngodu racked up four of the squad’s eight rebounds. Brown came out on fire, registering eight points, and going 2-2 from the three. Despite the continued effort, the Black and Gold couldn’t find their footing as Iowa State kept their lead secure with a 17-point advantage.
In the fourth, the Knights produced much of the same. Rodriguez led the scoring in the quarter with 13 in her ten minutes on the court. Akot and Brown led the defense in the final quarter with a rebound each. Even with the impressive scoring from multiple Knights, the Cyclones continued to dominate taking the game, 98-73.
Three Knights showcased double digits in scoring, two of which being the seniors honored.
Rodriguez set a career-high with a jumper late in the fourth hitting 21 points on the night. Peterson grabbed 20 points on the night, making it her 25th game in her UCF career to meet that feat. Brown was the final Knight to hit double digits with 11. Ngodu led the team with nine rebounds while Brown dished out four assists.
UCF will look to finish the regular season strong as they travel to Houston to take on the Cougars on Sunday, March 2 with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m.